One of the many reasons people bring their dogs to us for training has to do with leash pulling. Sometimes it’s the sheer size and power of the dog that make walks impossible, other times it’s serious leash reactivity issues, and then there is the constant barking while on a leash. In all cases, it’s important to remember that your walk starts before you leave the house.
Letting your dog pull you out of the front door and down the sidewalk for the next six blocks is not the ideal way to start off a walk. Sure, he’s great once he’s exhausted and then he does great! It doesn’t have to be that way, leaving the home in a controlled position with slack in your leash will set the mood for the entire walk. Barking at dogs, pulling, and/or reacting will be much less likely as his mind will already be dialed in due to him being focused on the proper walking position.
If your dog is likely to pull you out of the door, take that opportunity to work them through it. You may have to repeat the process every day for the next few days; put the work in and enjoy every step of your walk!
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